Lafayette College women's basketball squad working to find the right mix prior to Patriot League play

Coming in to the 2011-12 season, Lafayette College women's basketball coach Dianne Nolan indicated that the starting lineup was not set and could change depending on matchups and the developing chemistry among her young squad.

At the quarterpost of the campaign, that forecast has been spot-on as ten different Leopard players have started at least one game.

"With us trying to put together some new, young players with some of our veterans we thought this might happen," Nolan said. "I am pleased with where we are getting to."

Perhaps no player on the team epitomizes the roster flexibility more than Sarah McGorry. The senior forward is second on the team in minutes and scoring (8.8 ppg), but has been on the floor for the opening tip only one time.

With 18 and 15 point efforts in home wins over Wagner and Manhattan, respectively, don't expect McGorry's role to change anytime soon.

"She brings such a spark off of the bench and you really have to have a special player -- especially a senior -- to accept that role," Nolan said. "Sarah brings a presence to the floor -- a calming presence, but yet a very tenacious one."

Nolan acknowledges that every player would like to start but, for her part, McGorry is fine with the arrangement.

"I get to sit there for a couple of minutes, kind of relax and see what is going on," the Economics & Business major from Doylestown said. "I can see where the openings are and where the defense is playing."

Lafayette has won three of the last five, including a 48-43 win over Manhattan on Saturday. Despite starting the season 0-3, the light switch actually may have gone on during a Nov. 19 loss at Syracuse when the Leopards trailed by just one at halftime.

"We competed with them the first half," McGorry said. "But we still haven't put two halves together."

A home contest Wednesday against St. Joseph's will be the final Kirby Sports Center appearance of the calendar year.

Following a pre-exam break game at Bryant on Sunday, the Lady Leopards play at Saint Francis (NY), against fifth-ranked Maryland and one other opponent in the Terrapin Classic and at Pittsburgh in the final 10 days of the month.

"These games are gut checks for us to see how physical we can be," McGorry said.
"This whole preseason, pre-conference games are just preparing us for the
Patriot League."

The Leopards will return home to face Columbia, their final out-of-conference foe, on Jan. 4 and kickoff the Patriot League campaign when they host Navy on Jan. 7.